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Thanks for tuning in today. This is Mohul Bhowmick signing off on behalf of Pradeep. Join us at Sportskeeda in a short while when Portugal return to face the hosts Gibraltar in their second match of this tri-nation competition. They will be on a high after this big victory over Malta. Until next time, ciao!
Quite surprisingly, the Maltese batting folded and handed Portugal a comfortable victory. Md Siraj Nipo was the star for Portugal with the ball in hand, and made sure that the Maltese batters could not quite free their hands indiscriminately.
The likes of Junaid Khan and Amir Zaib too managed to get into the act and made sure that Malta were not even able to reach the 100-run mark. A lot was expected of the likes of Basil George, Ryan Bastiansz and skipper Varun Prasath, but they all flattered to deceive.
Malta will be very displeased with the way they batted today, although left-arm spinner Md Siraj of Portugal will be happy with the fact that he managed to bag a five-wicket haul. Doing so in a Twenty20 game is not easy, but he spun a web against the Maltese batters.
All in all, Portugal will be happy with the way they performed today. Earlier in the day, it was batter Najeem Shahzad who had given them the luxury to express themselves freely on the field. Portugal come back in a while to take Gibraltar on in their second game of this tri-nation competition.
13.3 Md Siraj Nipo to Amar Sharma, OUT! STUMPED! That's it, it's all over as Portugal humble Malta in this first game. Md Siraj Nipo picks up a fifer, what a remarkable spell of bowling it has been. Length delivery on the fourth stump. Amar lunges to drive but he's dragged his backfoot outside the crease as the keeper does the rest. Umpire is checking this one upstairs, it's been given OUT!
Amar Sharma st Kuldeep Gholiya b Md Siraj Nipo 10 (11b 0x4 1x6)
13.2 Md Siraj Nipo to David Marks, short on the stumps. Marks swipes it to deep square-leg for a single.
13.1 Md Siraj Nipo to Amar Sharma, length delivery on he fifth stump. Amar leans and pushes it to covers for a quick single.
David Marks, RHB, is the last batter.
It seems all but over for Malta now! Portugal are just one wicket away from victory here.
13
overs
74/9score
1wd
1
0
W
0
0
W
runs
Fazil Rahman*
0(3)
Amar Sharma
9(9)
Amir Zaib
2/2
12.6 Amir Zaib to Fazil Rahman, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Done him with a slower one, takes all the pace off and completely deceives Fazil there. He has another wild swing too early and misses, through to rattle the stumps.
12.5 Amir Zaib to Fazil Rahman, back of a length delivery, outside the off-stump. Fazil has another ugly swing across the line and misses.
12.4 Amir Zaib to Fazil Rahman, back of a length on the off-stump. Fazil has a wild swing but ends up dragging it into the on-side.
Fazil Rahman, RHB, is the new batter.
12.3 Amir Zaib to Ashok Bishnoi, OUT! BIG APPEAL FOR LBW, UP GOES THE FINGER! That looked like it was sliding down leg but umpire gives it out. Back of a length delivery on the leg-stump line, Bishnoi gets inside the line and looks to clip it but misses, raps on the pad.
Ashok Bishnoi lbw b Amir Zaib 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
12.2 Amir Zaib to Ashok Bishnoi, back of a length on the off-stump. Bishnoi on the backfoot pushes it to the cover fielder for another dot.
12.1 Amir Zaib to Amar Sharma, back of a length on the off-stump. Amar on the backfoot drops it into the off-side for a quick single.
12.1 Amir Zaib to Amar Sharma, WIDE! Too straight as he strays it down the leg-side, called a wide.
Siraj has spun a web across all the batters of Malta. It is only a matter of time before they get all out and provide Portugal with a rather well-deserved win.
12
overs
72/7score
1
1
6
2nb
4
w
1wd
0
runs
Ashok Bishnoi*
0(1)
Amar Sharma
8(8)
Mohammad Siraj Nipo
4/15
11.6 Md Siraj Nipo to Ashok Bishnoi, full delivery on the stumps, Bishnoi chips it in to the off-side as Nipo sprints to his left but falls well short.
11.6 Md Siraj Nipo to Ashok Bishnoi, WIDE! Drops it short but drifts it way outside the off-stump, called a wide.